Ultrasound feedback in medically-treated patients

• US 20030069502A1
• Filed: 05/22/2002
• Published: 04/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Inder Raj S. Makin, Mast T. Douglas
• Original Assignee: Inder Raj S. Makin, Mast T. Douglas
• Inventors: Mast, T. Douglas, Makin, Inder Raj. S.
• Application Number:
  US10/153,241
• Publication Number:
  US 20030069502A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/437
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0233 Pointed or sharp biopsy instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22012 in direct contact with, or very close to, the obstruction or concrement for removing obstructions in blood vessels by laser A61B18/245
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/2202 the ultrasound transducer being inside patient's body at the distal end of the catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320093 additional movable means performing cutting operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3784 both receiver and transmitter being in the instrument or receiver being also transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3929 Active markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3975 active
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/445 Details of catheter construction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4488 the transducer being a phased array
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2007/0078 with multiple treatment transducers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/022 intracavitary

Abstract

A method for ultrasound imaging of patient tissue. A first signal is obtained of a first imaging ultrasound wave which has been reflected back from a location in the patient tissue at a first time. A second signal is obtained of a second imaging ultrasound wave which has been reflected back from the location in the patient tissue at a later second time wherein the patient has received at least some medical treatment by the second time. An image of the location is created using the first signal and the second signal. In one example, the method is repeated for different locations to image the patient tissue, wherein the image of the patient tissue includes medically-treated locations and medically-untreated locations.

Claims

1. A method for ultrasound imaging of patient tissue of a patient comprising the steps of:

a) obtaining a first signal of a first imaging ultrasound wave which has been reflected back from a location in the patient tissue at a first time;

b) obtaining a second signal of a second imaging ultrasound wave which has been reflected back from the location in the patient tissue at a later second time wherein the patient has received at least some medical treatment by the second time; and

c) creating an image of the location using the first signal and the second signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the medical treatment is ultrasound medical treatment.

3. The method of claim 1, also including repeating steps a) through c) for different locations to image the patient tissue, wherein the image of the patient tissue includes medically-treated locations and medically-untreated locations.

4. A method for ultrasound imaging of patient tissue of a patient comprising the steps of:

a) obtaining a first signal of a first imaging ultrasound wave which has been reflected back from a location in the patient tissue at a first time;

b) obtaining a second signal of a second imaging ultrasound wave which has been reflected back from the location in the patient tissue at a later second time wherein the patient has received at least some medical treatment by the second time; and

c) creating an image of the location using at least the amplitude of the first signal and the amplitude of the second signal.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first signal has a first frequency, wherein the second signal has a second frequency, and wherein the second frequency is different from the first frequency.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the medical treatment is ultrasound medical treatment.

7. The method of claim 4, also including repeating steps a) through c) for different locations to image the patient tissue, wherein the image of the patient tissue includes medically-treated locations and medically-untreated locations.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein step c) includes calculating the difference in amplitude between the first and second signals.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein step c) uses the amplitude difference and uses one of the amplitudes of the first and second signals.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein step c) calculates the sum of the one amplitude and a function of the amplitude difference.

11. A method for ultrasound imaging of patient tissue of a patient comprising the steps of:

a) obtaining a first signal of a first imaging ultrasound wave which has been reflected back from a location in the patient tissue at a first time;

b) obtaining a second signal of a second imaging ultrasound wave which has been reflected back from the location in the patient tissue at a later second time wherein the patient has received at least some medical treatment by the second time; and

c) creating an image of the location using at least the phase of the first signal and the phase of the second signal.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first signal has a first frequency, wherein the second signal has a second frequency, and wherein the second frequency is different from the first frequency.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the medical treatment is ultrasound medical treatment.

14. The method of claim 11, also including repeating steps a) through c) for different locations to image the patient tissue, wherein the image of the patient tissue includes medically-treated locations and medically-untreated locations.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein step c) includes calculating the difference in phase between the first and second signals.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein step c) uses the phase difference and uses one of the phases of the first and second signals.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein step c) calculates the sum of the one phase and a function of the phase difference.

18. A method for ultrasound imaging of patient tissue of a patient comprising the steps of:

a) obtaining a first signal of a first imaging ultrasound wave which has been reflected back from a location in the patient tissue at a first time;

b) obtaining a second signal of a second imaging ultrasound wave which has been reflected back from the location in the patient tissue at a later second time wherein the patient has received at least some medical treatment by the second time; and

c) creating an image of the location using at least the amplitude and the phase of the first signal and the amplitude and the phase of the second signal.

19. A method for ultrasound imaging of patient tissue of a patient comprising the steps of:

a) obtaining a first signal of a first imaging ultrasound wave which has been reflected back from a location in the patient tissue at a first time;

b) obtaining a second signal of a second imaging ultrasound wave which has been reflected back from the location in the patient tissue at a later second time wherein the patient has received at least some medical treatment by the second time; and

c) creating an image of the location using the first signal and the second signal, wherein the first signal has a first frequency, wherein the second signal has a second frequency, and wherein the second frequency is different from the first frequency.